Method of manufacturing draft yokes



Feb. 17. 1925. 1,526,911

B. W. KADEL METHOD OF MANUFACTURINQ DRAFT-YOXES Filed July 17, 1922 Patented Feb. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BYERS W. KADEL, F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIG-NOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,

TO THE SYMINGTON COMPANY, A CCRPORATION 0F MARYLAND.

METHOD OF MANUFACTURING DRAFT YOKES.

Application filed July 17, 1922. Serial No. 575,676.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BYERs W, KADEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Manufacturing Draft Yokes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a ful1, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a method of manufacturing draft yokes for railway cars. The object of the invention is to provide a simple and practical process resulting in the production of a strongand reliable yoke constructed of wrought metal.

In the accompanying Jdrawings,by which the steps in the method of manufacturing a draft yoke are illustrated,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a slitted blank formed as an endless band Or ring, dot and dash lines indicating the positions assumed by the divided portions of the band after they have been spread apart.

Figure 21s a perspective view illustrating the stage of manufacture at which the intermediate parts of the divided segments of the band have been forced toward each other subsequent to the outward bending of the divided segments.

Figure 3 is a side elevation, parts of the draft arms being broken away, showing the yoke after the divided segments have been twisted to form spaced means adapted to cooperate with a coupler key and after the remaining portion of the band has been shaped to form the arms and rear end of the yoke.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the yoke construction shown in Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the pre ferred form of the forward end of the completed draft yoke.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the forward end of the preferred form of the completed yoke.

In order to obtain all the advantages of my invention, the metal blank from which the draft yoke is fashioned is in the form of a ring or endless band 1 which is preferably of rectangular cross section and of suitable proportions. This blank may be produced in any convenient manner, as for example, by starting with an ingot, and forming a bloom which is then pierced and rolled into ring shape after the manner commonly practiced in the manufacture of steel tires for locomotive driving wheels.

A portion of the endless band blank is cut or slitted peripherally, as indicated at 2-, to form divided segmental portions 3 which are integrally united at their oppo site ends. The portions thus divided are then bent outwardly or forced apart, as indicated in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1., and intermediate parts of the divided segments are thereafter preferably forced toward each other, as indicated at 4 in Fig. 2. These intermediate or central portions of the segments 3 are adapted, in the completed yoke, to engage the Well known key for connecting a coupler thereto. The divided segmental portions thus shaped are then twisted in opposite directions until they assume the position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4E, and the remaining or unslitted portion of the endlessband is shaped to constitute the arms 5 and rear end 6 of the device.

The heretofore described steps of the method of manufacture produce in themselves a complete draft yoke of the form illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, and where a yoke of that type is to be constructed no further steps need be performed. But, as is preferred, when the hooded type of draft yoke is to be produced, metal pieces or in-- sects 7, forming in conjunction with the neighboring portions of the yoke the side walls of the hooded end thereof, are welded in place between the yoke arms, the welded union of said parts 7 with the portions of the yoke formed from the divided segments 3 being indicated in Fig. 5 by dot and dash lines 8. The upper and lower walls of the hooded portion of the yoke are similarly produced by welding in place oppositely disposed pieces 9 which extend between and unite the laterally spaced parts 3 of the device adjacent the forward ends of the arms 5, the line of welded union of said insets 9 with the portion of the yoke formed from the endless band being indicated in Fig. 6

by the dot and dash lines 10.

The reinforcing pieces 7 provide connections between the arms 5 of the yoke adapted to extend behind the usual coupler key; and for the purpose of receiving said key each of said parts 7 is suitably slotted. as indicated at 11.

As will be appreciated, the construction is such sub ect metal band, slitting an intermediate seg-' ment of said band to form portions Which are integrally united at their opposite ends, and shaping said portions divided by slitting to formspaced means adapted to receive a coupler key.

2. The method of manufacturing draft yokes which involves forming an endless band, peripherally dividing-a segment of said band, bending. said divided portions outwardly, forcing intermediate parts of said divided portions toward each other, and twisting said divided portions to formcoupler key receiving means.

3. The method of manufacturing draft yokes which involves forming anendless band, peripherally dividing a portion of said band, and subsequently shaping said divided portions to form spaced means adapted to receive a coupler key.

l. The method of ,manufacturing draft yokes which involves forming an. endless band, peripherally dividing a segment of said band, shaping said divided portions to form spaced means adapted to receive a coupler key; and shaping the remaining portion of said band to form the arms and rear end of the yoke.

The 'method of manufacturing draft remaining portion ofsaid band to form the arms and rear end of the yoke, and Welding in'place oppositely disposed pieces tying .said arms together and adapted to extend behind the coupler key.

6. The method of nianufactui'ing draft yokes which involves formingan-endless metal band, peripherally dividing a segment of saidband, shapingsaid divided portions to form spaced parts adapted to extend around the forward-edge-of a coupler key, shaping the. remaining portion of said band to formthe arms and rear end of the yoke, formingaplurality of pieces respectively adapted to fit Within the spaced parts and finally Welding to ,the respective spaced parts said corresponding pieces.

7. The method of manufacturingdraft yokes Which involves forming an endless metal .band, peripherally dividing a segment .of said band,' shaping said divided portions to. form spaced parts adapted to cooperate avith a coupler key, shaping the re maining portion .ofsaid band to form the arms and. rear end of the yoke, and Welding in place oppositely disposed pieces extending between and uniting said spaced parts adjacent the forward ends of the arms of the. yoke.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

BYERS 'VVIKADEL. 

